OREANDA-NEWS. September 19, 2014. More and more, social responsibility has become an important decision-factor for job seekers when considering potential employers.

That is why Verizon is joining forces with USA Network in launching the Characters Unite College Tour Competition to encourage students to use technology and their voices to help solve some of the country’s biggest social issues, such as stopping hate, discrimination and dating abuse.

Now through Sept. 26, all college and university students can enter the competition at charactersunitecollegetour.com The school with the highest number of entries will be guaranteed a stop on the fall tour, which will feature a star from a USA Network series.

At each stop of the Characters Unite College Tour, students will be invited to create a free “I Won’t Stand For…” t-shirt, personalizing it by stamping a word to fill in the blank, such as bullying, dating abuse, racism, religious intolerance, sexism, homophobia, ableism and more.

In addition, students can take a photo to be a part of the Characters Unite online gallery and immediately share the image with their friends and family via social media, joining millions of people – including top musicians, movie and television stars, athletes and political leaders – in the Characters Unite campaign to combat all forms of violence and discrimination.

Joining USA Network on Characters Unite is a natural fit for Verizon as we look to recruit the top talent in our industry. As college students continue to factor corporate responsibility into their job searches, this campaign helps demonstrate how Verizon’s inclusive culture and integrity are the core of who we are as a company.

Students will also be able to join Verizon in speaking out against dating violence through the company’s HopeLine program. The activation will include HopeLine Collection bins where guests can donate no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories in any condition, from any service provider.

Donated phones are recycled or refurbished and turned into support in the form of cash grants for local and national domestic violence prevention organizations across the country. Through HopeLine, Verizon also provides wireless phones to local domestic violence prevention organizations across the country for use by their clients.